'Dogs host Knights on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 9

FRESNO, CA

6 PM PT

Fresno State

UCF

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

'Dogs host Knights on Wednesday

3/8/2022 4:24:00 PM | Softball

Fresno State Stats

By: Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications

Week 6: Fresno State (3-15, 0-0 MW) vs. UCF (15-7, 0-0 AAC)
March 9 | 6:00 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif. | Margie Wright Diamond
Series History: UCF leads 1-0 | Streak: UCF W1 | Last: UCF 6-1 (2022)

Live Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Live Stream: MW Network
Tickets: HERE

THE BONES:

Fresno State is 3-15 this season, and 1-2 at home.
Fresno State is coming off a 2-3 weekend at the 2022 Judi Garman Classic, posting wins over Penn and LMU.
Fresno State will face UCF for the second time this season.
The Knights defeated the Bulldogs 6-1 on Feb. 12 at the CFX Classic in Orlando, Fla.
UCF is 15-7 this season, including ranked wins over then-ranked No. 12 Georgia and then-ranked No. 11 Texas.
The Knights are receiving votes in both polls this week.
Fresno State Athletics is celebrating its centennial year.
Fresno State brings back nine players and adds 11 newcomers.
The Bulldogs add nine Division I transfers.
15 Bulldogs on the 2022 roster were experienced postseason play in 2022.
May-Johnson enters her first season at the helm of the program after being named the head coach on July 6, 2021.
Fresno State is the reigning MW Champions, after finishing the 2021 season with a 20-4 MW record to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs look to make their 35th postseason appearance in program history.

BIG BATS BACK
Fresno State brings back nine players including its big bats in Keahilele Mattson, Adrianna Noriega and Vanessa M. Hernandez.

Mattson was named the MW Player of the Year, MW Co-Freshman of the Year, an All-MW First Team selection and a NFCA All-Region honoree during her first season with the Bulldogs in 2021. She became the first player in MW history to be named both the MW Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year.

The Alta Loma, Native became the backbone of the Bulldogs' offense leading the team in batting average (.358), hits (49), doubles (10), home runs (12), slugging percentage (.737) and RBIs (41). Mattson's 2021 slugging percentage ranks No. 6 in the program's record book.

Noriega, an All-MW selection, and Hernandez, a NFCA All-Region selection, also bring back depth to the Bulldogs' lineup.

NEW FACES
Fresno State revamps its roster with 11 newcomers.

May-Johnson added eight Division I transfers in Alana Cobb-Adams (Southern Illinois), Emery Nielson (Utah Valley), Casey Dixon (Louisiana), Abby Doughty (Utah Valley), Alyssa Orr (Iowa State), Bailey Williams (Texas), Marley Hanlon (UIC) and Kacey Hvitved (Ole Miss).

The 'Dogs also add three freshmen in Alex Wright, Taryn Irigoyen and Haley Painter.

'DOGS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
The Fresno State softball team was selected to finish third in the 2022 Mountain West Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's nine head coaches, announced Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs received 43 points and one first place vote in the poll.

The 'Dogs will open MW play March 18-20 at Boise State. Fresno State will host San Diego State (March 25-27), Utah State (April 8-10), Colorado State (April 22-24) and UNLV (May 12-14) at Margie Wright Diamond.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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